Life Style / Painting Glossary

Metal: Copper sheets have been used primarily, although works have been painted on aluminium, iron, steel and zinc. Media suitable are acrylics, alkyds and oils. The metal sheets should be degrease . . . View Full Definition

Metallics: A class of paints that include metal flakes in their composition.

Middle Ground: The area of a painting between the foreground and the background. In a landscape this usually where your focal point would be. See Background, Foreground.

Mildew Resistance: The ability of a coating to resist the growth of molds and mildew. Mildew is particularly prevalent in moist, humid and warm climates.

Mildewcide: An agent that helps prevent molds or mildew growth on paint.

Mineral Spirits: An effective paint thinner, especially when using oil based paints.

Miniature: A small picture not normally larger than 6 in in anyone direction. The greatest schools of miniature-painting flourished in England during the 16th and 17th centuries. The leaders were such . . . View Full Definition

Mixed Media: One or more medium used in the same picture. Thus pastel and ink, pastel and water-colour, tempera and water-colour, etc.

Modeling: Representing color and lighting effects to make an image appear three-dimensional.

Moisture Resistance: The ability of a paint or stain to resis swelling, blistering or other damage caused by moisture.

Monochromatic: A single color in all it's values.

Monochrome: A method of decorating floors, walls and ceilings with tiny fragments (tesserae) set into mastic plaster or cement. It has a beginning in Crete and with the early Greeks. The largest mosaic . . . View Full Definition

Motif: A term meaning 'subject'. Flowers or roses can be a motif.

Multiple Tint Tool: A tool used particularly in wood-engraving with a thick rectangular rod which is so made that it will cut up to five or six lines at a time. It can be used for cross-hatching or pecking textures.

Murals: Paintings that are executed directly on to a wall. Media can include fresco (buon and secco), oils, tempera, casein and acrylics. In all cases the painter must take great care to see that th . . . View Full Definition

Muted: Suppressing the full color value of a particular color.

Muted Color: Restricted or suppressed rather than the full range of color.

N.W.S.: Abbreviation of the National Watercolor Society, established in 1920.

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